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I have been trout fishing for all my life and a friend recently turned me on to bass fishing. I am looking at getting two different rods, a spinning rod and a casting rod. However I do not know much about which rods are good for these or which brand etc. If there are any reels as well that are better than others that would help out a ton. I would like to keep the rods around $100 and the reel somewhere around there as well.

Thank you so much guys!

- Connor

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i also trout fish and bass fish. Ive got a daiwa aird 2500 on a 6 foot fenwich hmx . I enjoy this spinning combo. I can throw light 1/8th oz rooster tails for trout or pull good size bass out of the lilly pads. the aird is 90 bucks, rod is about 60 or 70

Quite a few decent rods near the $100 mark. Fenwick HMX, HMG......or the Smallmouth either on sale or stretch your rod budget.just a little. Omens are very nice for the money. Haven't fished one, but take a look at the Quantum Escalade at Dick's Sporting Goods. This rod is very light., and I like its looks My local store can't keep the Mediums in stock. Course they don't order many at a time either! I'm hoping to snag a Medium next time they come in.

ohya has the Quantum Superlite PT and Tour Edition PT for $125 (MSRP $230) and $118 (MSRP $200) respectively. These are good rods at full price...super at the sale price.

Of the low priced St. Croix rods, I like the Premier best. Personal choice. Powell Diesel rods seem to be popular. I don't own any Powells, but wouldn't mind a couple Endurance.

Check out your local Walmart and see if they carry the Daiwa Jupiter. This model is made strictly for Walmart. I have a 7' MH and like it a lot so far.

Some of the lower cost Shimanos are well thought of. If you want to pay as little as possible and still get a good rod, look at the Berkley Lightning or Lightning Shock.

Spinning reels: Pflueger President is a great value. People always recommend some of the Shimanos, but I can't offer any advice on those. I have read on here a few comments about how nice the Orra is for the price.

Baitcast reels: Can't help much with the lower cost reels other than to pass along comments from others. The PQ has already been mentioned. Daiwa Exceler may be another option. The Daiwa Tatula is getting great reviews. Used I can highly recommend the older gold Carbonlites. Used will give you quite a few more options. I've seen the Daiwa Fuego in good shape as low as $105. Absolutely love mine.

If it was me I would I would get a cheaper Spinning setup like a Vendetta rod and Lew's Reel. Then use the extra money you save to get a Daiwa Tatula $160 reel and a Danali Kovert $119 rod to make an amazing casting combo.

Fenwick HMG/HMX/Elite Tech Smallmouth - If you can find the ET for sale at 99 it is must grab. I'd get the M/XF 6'9" very versatile rod. As for reel - Symetre or Sahara will be fine. or Abu Garcia Veritas - Is another choice, but I'd go M/F, same reel.

Casting:

Same Fenwick lines - as for the reel go for a BPS PQ or Veritas..or just get a Carbonlite/PQ combo which you can get for under 160 I believe. The Carbonlite gets a lot of praise here.

This is only my opinion, but for the price of St Croix Triumph - it isn't worth it as other similarly priced rods are better. If you want to get a St Croix I'd suggest the next level up. Mojo or Premier

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BPS Carbonlite is a great rod for $100 bucks. Both casting and spinning, customer friendly warranty too

Spinning reels, pflueger are unbeatable but I have seen the energy PT going for under 100 at cabelas.

Baitcasting reels, I have an exceler the older model nice reel, not my favorite but it is pretty good. Daiwa makes the cabelas prodigy reels look for deals. I hear but haven't used the pro qualifier is one of the best bang for buck at 100.

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I have two lews tournament mg's and love them they are 129.99. As for a spinning reel the shimano symetre is sweet for 99.99. As for rods in that range the only ones I have experience with is a *** *** its a real nice rod and I really like it. And a Falcon Original is a pretty nice

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Go with st croix 7ft mojo bass tube and grub rod with a shimano sahara 2500. Sweet all purpose spinning set up. For casting go with the 7ft st croix mojo plastics rod with a pro qualifier reel. The plastics blank does well with t rig plastics as well as crank and spinner baits.....this will give you 2 do all set ups. You will be able to cover and properly present a lot of techniques.